Hull City’stroubled season took another turn for the worse as Sheffield United came from behind to record a 4-1 victory that ramps up the pressure on Leonid Slutsky.

The Tigers led at half-time through Kamil Grosicki’s spectacular strike from distance but all their promising work was undone by an abject second-half performance.

Leon Clarke netted all four goals for Sheffield United as an inexperienced City defence crumbled before Slutsky’s eyes through the closing stages. Only the heroics of goalkeeper Allan McGregor prevented the visitors from further embarrassment but a third straight loss capped a truly miserable week for the Tigers.

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City have reached the international break in 20 position in the Championship – the club’s lowest league standing in seven years – and the manner of this latest defeat will only raise more questions over the long-term future of Slutsky.

The Russian insisted ahead of this game he would be given time to turn City’s season around but it is now just two wins in 11 games for a side relegated from the Premier League in May.

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The back-to-back home defeats against Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough had ramped up the pressure and he made two changes in an attempt to stop the rot. Ola Aina returned at right-back to allow Fikayo Tomori to partner Michael Dawson in the absence of the suspended Michael Hector. Grosicki was also ushered back in, with Kevin Stewart axed in the midfield reshuffle.

Sheffield United had their own injury problems from midweek but there was no lacking confidence in the start made by Chris Wilder’s side, who knew a win would take them into the top two. McGregor had to be sharp to prevent Billy Sharp from converting Enda Steven’s header inside four minutes, before Tomori made amends for an earlier unpunished lapse when clearing ahead of Leon Clarke.

City had their own good spell when a Jarrod Bowen cross was dropped by Simon Moore and Larsson was denied from long-range but the visitors were soon indebted to the reflexes of McGregor again. Mark Duffy’s trickery on the United left worked a crossing opportunity and though Clarke climbed above Tomori to thump a header goalbound, McGregor’s strong right hand tipped over superbly.

If the Scot’s save had been special, the moment of brilliance soon had a rival at the other end in the 30 minute. A seemingly innocuous attack sprang to life as Grosicki used the overlapping run of Larsson to cut inside and unleash a magnificent strike over Simon Moore from 25 yards out.

The Polish winger’s fifth of the season gave City a lead to build upon and minutes later they should have won a penalty. David Meyler’s pass inside was taken on by Fraizer Campbell and his attempts to beat Jack O’Connell ended with the defender handling inside his box. Every City player in the vicinity appealed but Darren Bond waved play on.

O’Connell almost compounded the injustice when his long-range effort was tipped over by McGregor soon after but it was City that had another fine chance. Grosicki played in Campbell to advance down the left and kept on going to receive a return pass, but with the goal gaping the winger shanked wide.

One negative from the first half was a fifth yellow card of the season for Campbell, ruling him out of Ipswich’s visit in a fortnight, but City reached the interval ahead after Jarrod Bowen’s awareness allowed him to clear John Fleck’s deep free-kick off the line.

Sheffield United came out strongly in the second half, again bringing out the best of McGregor. Clarke’s header sent Fleck’s cross back in the direction it had come only for City’s keeper to fling out a right hand and parry. Another half chance went to Stevens, who lashed over from inside the box.

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The Blades’ weight of pressure finally told as an equaliser arrived in the 53 minute. Cameron Carter-Vickers was allowed time and space to cross from the right flank and Clarke was able to beat Tomori to the ball and send a first-time flick beyond McGregor.

Sheffield United had tails up to pose a test of City’s character and the bulk of play was in the visitors’ half. Fleck’s cross for Clarke should have seen the striker do better from 10 yards out, before City immediately launched a counter through Campbell. But for a superb sliding tackle from Jake Wright on Tomori, the Tigers could have retaken the lead.

Sheffield United, however, always looked the more likely winner. Stevens’ cross from the left teed up a golden chance for Sharp only for Max Clark to somehow block in the six-yard box, but City’s hopes of hanging on would soon collapse.

Desperately poor defending saw Tomori dragged out of the defensive line and when Kevin Stewart failed to track the onward run of Clarke, the Blades striker was sent clear through by Duffy to dink the ball over the onrushing McGregor.

Sheffield United’s imposing centre forward had been a menace to City’s inexperienced defence throughout and in the 80 minute he was rewarded with the matchball. Sharp’s deep cross begged to be attacked and Clarke jumped highest of all to nod into the net.

The pain was not quite over for Slutsky on the sidelines. Inexcusable defending handed Clarke the chance to net his fourth and he duly obliged by rolling the ball past the stranded McGregor two minutes from time.